You’re going to count on your developers for a lot. All qualified developers have the know-how to get the job done, but it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re working with them, rather than against them. Once you’ve found the people you’d be glad to have as members of your team, it’s time to start focusing on the ways you intend to handle that team. Providing them with the right tools is the key to success.

Reach as Many Candidates as Possible

It may take a long time to narrow down your candidates if you’ve put out a lot of leads, but it’s worth it. It’s ultimately easier to review a ton of candidates and handpick the best ones, rather than search with a narrow focus and take the best from a small pool. Encourage your colleagues to spread the word to any great developers they may know. Post ads on Gumtree with strong, effective job descriptions.

Provide the Right Work Environment

Managing your dev team the wrong way can actually make their jobs harder. You need to listen to them, and value their input. They know all the little details, and they know how to create an efficient process. You may need to offer your suggestions, but base your plans around what your developers say is the most feasible course of action. Empower them as much as possible, and let them tell you what they need.

Facilitate Great Communication

One of the worst mistakes you can make would be to sequester your developers. They’ll need to work together, but they’ll also need to see the big picture. Encourage your dev team to collaborate with other staff members on projects. All of your teams need to work well together, and it’s the constant exchange of ideas that opens the door to true innovation and workplace creativity. All of your teams need to be on the same page in order to see a project through to completion.

Switch Things Up

Much of a developer’s work is tedious. They’ll have to go over the smallest of details, revising and reworking things at all stages of development. It’s repetitive work, and it’s easy to get sick of a particular project after a while. Make sure you’re doing whatever is in your power to prevent them from feeling burned out. Sometimes, this means flexible scheduling or allowing remote work. Let them cut out early every once in a while, and take them out to discuss the current project over some pizza and beer.

Foster a Celebratory Culture

Developers are an important backbone, and they can make or break your chances for success. When they accomplish something great, they should feel more than just relief that the project was completed successfully. Be prepared to celebrate the successes of your developers. They deserve to feel appreciated for all that they’ve done for you. You don’t necessarily need to hold an extravagant celebration – particularly if your budget won’t allow for it. At the very least, get some snacks and screen a fun movie in the break room after hours. Let them know how much they mean to you.

Developers often work in the shadows, and it’s important to shine a light on them every once in a while. They’re just as much a part of your business as everyone else is, and they need to know your value. You’ll inevitably stumble upon developers that won’t work out, and need to replace them. In that case, just ask your best developers for recommendations.